Feed water heater for locomotives



March 1933- M. w. DOLE ET AL FEED WATER HEATER FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed Nov 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnvenTors. Myron W. Dole Mortimer Silvermqn 776.! M1

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FEED WATER HEATER FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed NOV. 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

lriven'Tors.

Myron W-.Do\e

MorTimer= Sfflvermun W add W ATTys.

Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrcE MYRON WJDOLE, F BELMONT, AND MORT ME SILVEBMAN, 0F ERooxLINE, MASSACHUSETTS FEED WATER HEATER Eon Locomo rvEs Application filed'November 6, 1929 Serial No. 405,225;

This invention relates to a feed water heater for locomotives and 1t has for some of its objects to provide anovelfeed water heater which is so constructedthat its in- 5 stallation cost is low; toprovide a novel feed Water heater that is so constructed that it has facilities for storage. of heated water that may be fed into the locomotive boiler asneeded; to provide a novel feed water heater having means to insulate the heated feed water from the unheated water in the mainitank of. the tender; toprovide a feed water heater which has provision for preheating the water before it is delivered to the feed-water heating chamber; to provide a feed water heater which is so constructed that. the vfeed water may be heated either by the steam exhaustedsby the cylinders of the locomotive or the exhaust from any one of the auxiliary devices, such as the headlight generator, air pump, feed pump, etc., or by a combination of exhaust steam from two or more of these sources, andvto generally improve feed water heaters in various respects which will be more fully hereinafter set forth; I A

One advantage, derived from our invention is thatit is possible to heat the. feed water while the engine throttle is closed, providing that at such times one or more auxiliary devices, such forinstance as a headlight generator,za1r pump or feed-pump is operating and thus furnishing exhaust steam that may be used for water-heating vent transferenceof heat from the waterheating compartment to the-main'compartment;

4 This insulation may be provided for by:

separating adjacent compartments by means of a; heat-insulating partition and in the preferred embodimentof' our. invention wepropose to employ arpluralityi of-such parti- 1 tionsithereby providing 'axpassa'ge compartment that is located-intermediate the waterheating compartment and the main water compartment and through which water: is; fed fromthelatterto the former-.. The va rious compartments have communication with each other through, valved ports int the partitions which permit gravitationali flowof water fromthe main water compartf'e ment into the water-heating compartment through the intermediatecompartments but which prevent counterfiow- This construci-- tion prevents the. flow ofrheatednwater from; the feed-water heating compartment? back;- into the 'main compartment, thereby: preventing; preheating of the water in said: main compartment with possible: interfer ence with theoperationof: apparatus which is dependent for its correct functioning upon a supply ofcool water;

The heating of thevwater is done by the open heater principle, that isby'd'elivering exhaustv steam directly into the water con-- tained-in the water-heating compartment; Anotherfeatureof our invention relates to a novel construction, by which any surplus steam that is not condensed in the water-'- heating, compartment may be subsequently condensedand returned to the water-heat ing compartment instead of being dis-* charged into the atmosphere and in connection with this feature wehave, provided means whereby the water of'condensation" from such surplus steam may be used for preheating the water before it is delivered to the water-heating compartment.

Further objects of therinvention are to improve generally feed water heaters for locomotivesin various ways hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding ofthe;v invention we have illustrated in. the draw ings a selectedrembodiment thereof which, althoughnot limiting the design, will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed outin the appended claims;

Fig; l is a fragmentary viewof arlocomotive showing the tender portion thereof: equippedxwith vour improvements, the tenderbeing shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the condenser for condensing the surplus steam;

Fig. 3 is a section on substantially the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. at is a top plan view of the front end of the tender;

Fig. 5 is a section on substantially the line 55, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a locomotive of which 2 is the tender. This tender is provided with the usual water compartment 3, the latter being shown as having the outlet opening 4 communicating with the pipe 5 which leads to the usual injector with which locomotives are generally provided.

The outlet opening 4: is so located that the injector receives cold water from the main compartment 3 and thus it can always be used to feed water to the boiler in case of a break down of the means employed for feeding to the boilerthe water heated by the feed water heater, as required by the rules of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

In accordance with our invention we provide the tender with a water-heating compartment 6 which in this case is situated in front of the main compartment and beneath the shoveling plate 7.

A construction is provided which affords heat insulation between the water-heating compartment 6 and the main water compartment 3 so as to reduce heat loss. This insulation feature may be provided for in various ways without departing from the invention. In the construction herein shown, a passage compartment 8 is provided between the water-heating compartment 6 and the main water compartment 3, the construction being such that in passing from the main compartment 3 to the water-heating compartment 6 the water has to pass through the passage compartment. This passage compartment is formed between two partitions 9 and 10 that extend, in this case,

transversely across the tender between the shoveling plate 7 and the bottom plate 11.. These partitions are shown as heat insulated. each partition comprising a metal plate 12 combined with a layer 13 of suitable insulating material.

Each partition has a port therethrough which is controlled by a check, or flap valve, the flap valves being indicated at 14 and 15 respectively. The flap valve 14 opens inwardly into the passage compartment 8 and the flap valve 15 opens inwardly into the heating compartment 6. These valves are preferably situated at opposite ends of the passage compartment 8, as shown in Fig. 3, so that in flowing from the main water compartment 3 to the heating compartment 6, the water flows through the check valve 14 and then flows the length of the passage compart-ment 8 and then through the check valve 15.

The use of the partitions of insulating ma terial serves to reduce very materially any transfer of heat from the hot water in the compartment 6 to the water in the passage compartment 8, or that in the main compartment 3.

While we have herein illustrated the insulation feature of our invention as being associated with the use of a passage compartment 8, yet so far as the effect of the insulation is concerned this might be employed in a construction in which the water was admitted from the main chamber 3 directly into the water-heating compartment 6. The use of the passage compartment 8, however, has the advantage that it provides means for preheating the Water taken from the main chamber 3 before it is delivered to the water-heating compartment 6 as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The heating compartment 6 has a discharge port 16 with which communicates a pipe 17 leading to the feed device (not shown) by which the hot water is delivered to the boiler.

The Water in the compartment 6 may be heated either by steam exhausted from the engine cylinders or by steam exhausted from the auxiliary devices such as a headlight generator, air pump, feed pump, etc. or by both.

The water in the water-heating compartment 6 is heated on the open heater principle, that is, by delivering the exhaust steam directly into the water. This may be accomplished by any heat exchanger device suitable for the purpose. One convenient form of heat exchanger is in the form of one or more spray pipes which may conveniently have perforations throughout their length so that the steam which is delivered to the spray pipes will be discharged into the water through the jet openings. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there are two such spray pipes 18 and 19, each of which is perforated throughout its length and means are provided for delivering to the spray pipes the exhaust steam from the cylinders of the locomotive, or from any one or more of the auxiliary devices.

As shown in the drawings, the pipe 18 is connected to receive exhaust steam from the locomotive cylinders and the pipe 19 is connected to receive exhaust steam from the auxiliary devices, but the steam from both the cylinders and the auxiliary devices may be delivered to the same pipe or pipes.

With the construction illustrated, the exhaust steam from the engine cylinders, which may be taken therefrom in any usual way, is delivered from a pipe 20 to one leg of an inverted U-connection 21, the other leg of which is connected to the pipe 18. The upper end 22, or bridge of the U-conmotion, is situated above the maximum water levelgin the main: water tank and is provided with a vacuumbreaker 26,:the

purpose: of'whiclr is-to prevent the formatlOIL 1n the pipe of a sub-atmospheric the: feed-water heating theengine cylinders. The exhaust from the auxiliary devices is connected to a pipe 23 which inturn connectsitooneleg of another inverted Uwonnection 24, the other legtliereof connectingto'the pipe 19; The bend or-bridge of the U-connection 24 is also located above the maximum. water level. in the water compartment 3 The bridge or bend 25- is also provided with a vacuum. breaker 26-which operates inthe same man ner as-thevacuum breaker on the bridge orbend22a a The water heating compartment 6. is provided with a chamber or extension 27 which,.

in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, i'slocated: at one sideof thetender and which communicates with the compart ment 6;. The u connections. 21 and 24. are

shown as extending through this extension located: at a higher level than themaximum water-level off the tank 3 and this steam.

dome is provided with a hot water, return 30' whi'ch mayxlead' either tothe main. water compartment: 3 or the passage compartment.

8. In the illustrated embodiment. of the in: ventionthehot water return leads to the passage compartmentfl. The domeis also. my PIOV-idfidgWlth baflles 511which have for their purpose to assist". in. separating any: entrained water and/or air from the steam collecting-in the steam domeas. will be pres: ently-described. The hot. water which is separated fromthesteamby. the bafiies 51 and which is returned to the passage compartment-8 through the "hot water return 30 serves to heat the water in. the passage. compartment thereby preheatlng the water which is to bedeliveredtothe water-heating compartment.

The pipes. 20. and. '23; may be provided with oil separatorst31, and with valves 32 by'whichthe passage of steamtherethroughmay be controlled. These pipes are also. preferably. equipped with checkvalves40 to preventanyforward flowof water fromthe tender through the pipes 20; 23.

When the throttle valve; is, open and; the

locomotive is'working, exhaust steam from the'cylinders will be admittedto the waterheating compartment 6 through the spray pipe 18- thus heating the water therein and asthe hot water is withdrawn fromthis compartment andfedinto the boiler, water 1 Atthe upper end, the extension 27 isshaped to form asteam dome 29 which is from the main compartment: 3 willflovw into the heating compartment through the pas=. sage compartment. 8. The. flapv valves, 1a. and 15v prevent any; back. flow of hot water. due to lurchingof the tender, or surging of-iwater;

Any steam which .isnot condensed.- in the compartment 61will, of course, risethrough. the chamber 27 andiaccumulate in;the steamdome 29. There will naturally be more. or less. water brought up with the steam and; this entrained water will be separated: from. the steam by bafiles 51 and willv flow back into the compartment 8 throughv the return. 30 thereby acting-to preheat the water: in the passage compartment. before it is delivered' to the water heating compartment.

Our invention also comprehends a con; denser: device for condensing any steam or;- vapor which may. be discharged. from. the

' steam dome 29. For this purposewe have;

shown a series of condenser pipesv 33. sit uated in some convenient place, such; asat i the rear of the tender, said. pipesbeingcon nected at one end to an. intake. header-34 and at the other end to a dischargev header" 35. a a

The intake header 3etis connected by;. pipe 36 to the top of the steam dome and: any steam which accumulates in the dome. 29 will, therefore,.flow'.through the pipe; 36 into the condenser 33 where it willbe con densed, the water of condensation. flowing; into the discharge header 35.. 'lhisheader 35 is's'hown as. having adischarge or; re.- turn pipe 37 connected, thereto through which the water of condensation and any uncondensed steam maybetaken toany de-i sired point. In the illustrated. embodiment; of the invention this pipe 37 leads to, the passage compartment 8 although thedestination of this pipe is-not essential. Where the return pipe '37 leads to the passage com partment the hot water of condensation will serve to still further preheat. the water-,in. the passage compartment before it is de livercd to the water-heating compartment. The passage compartment thus provides, means for preheating the water taken. from. the main compartment and before itis de-- livered to the water-heating compartment and may be considered as a preheating compartment.

The discharge header 35 may, if'desired, also be provided with an air vent pipe 39' through'which air released from the water may escape to the atmosphere; Under normal conditions most of the steam passing over from the steam dome 29 will be'cond'ensed in the condenser and will be returned;

The chamber 27 extends to a pointabove the maximum water level in the main compartment?) and the horizontalcrosssectional area of said chamber and the area of the dome :29: are ofs suflicienti dimension: so i that.

any entrained air and/or steam can be readily separated from the water in the chamber 27, the separation of the entrained water from the steam which is carried into the steam dome being assisted by the baffles 51, and the separated water being delivered baekthrough the return pipe 30. The liberated air passes over through the condenser and out through the vent 39. It is highly advantageous to separate the entrained air from the water and steam, since the presence of air in water which is fed to the boiler will tend to increase pitting and corrosion of the boiler.

\Vhen the locomotive throttle is open the water in compartment 6 may be heated by steam delivered from the locomotive cylinders through pipe 18. When the locomotive throttle is closed, however, and any of the auxiliary devices are operating, the exhaust steam from said devices may be used for heating water in compartment 6 or for increasing the temperature thereof, so that a considerable supply of water at a high temperature is available for boiler feeding at practically all times. \Vith this invention, therefore, the water in compartment 6 may be kept at a high temperature, whether or not the locomotive is actually working steam.

52, 53 indicate bafiles placed in the main compartment and in the passage compartment outside of the flap valves. The purpose of these bafiies is to prevent these valves from becoming opened by the surging of water in the compartments.

WVhile we have illustrated herein a selected embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to be limited to the constructional features shown.

We claim:

1. In a feed water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a main water compartment, a feedwater heating compartment and a combined passage and preheating compartment interposed between the water compartment and feed-water heating compartment and communicating with both, said compartment being arranged to permit gravitational flow from the water compartment to the feedwater heating compartment through the passage compartment, non-return valves controlling said communications which permit such flow but prevent counter flow said feedwater heating compartment having an upwardly-directed extension provided with a steam dome above the maximum water level in the main compartment, of means to deliver exhaust steam into the feed-water heating compartment to heat the Water therein, and a hot water return for delivering any water carried into or steam condensed in the steam dome back to the passage and preheating compartment thereby to preheat the water in said compartment.

2. In a feed water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a main water compartment, a feedwater heating compartment, there being a valved communication between said compartments, of a heat exchanger in the heating compartment, a steam pipe taking exhaust steam from the locomotive cylinders and delivering said exhaust steam to the heat exchanger, said pipe having an inverted U- shape with the bend of the U located above the maximum water level in the main water compartment, and a vacuum breaker carried by said steam pipe at the bend thereof, said vacuum breaker operating to prevent the formation in said pipe of a sub-atmospheric pressure due to the locomotive drifting or to condensation in said pipe thereby preventing Water from the water-heating compartment being drawn into the locomotive cylinders.

3. In a feed Water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a main water compartment, a feedwater heating compartment and a passage compartment between the first-named compartments, of aport between one end of the passage compartment and the main water compartment, another port between the other end of the passage compartment and the water-heating compartment, whereby the water flowing from the main compartment to the Water-heating compartment has to pass from one end to the other o1 the passage compartment, non-return valves controlling said ports, means for heating the Water in the feed-water heating compartment, said feed-water heating compartment having an outlet port located as far as possible from the point at which water is delivered to said heating compartment from the passage compartment, and means to heat the water in the passage compartment.

4. In a feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a main water compartment and a feed-water heating compartment communicating therewith, of a flap valve controlling said communication and permitting flow from the water compartment to the feed water heating compartment but preventing counter flow, a heat exchanger in the feedwater heating compartment, means to deliver exhaust steam to said heat exchanger thereby to heat the water in said heating compartment, and a baflle in the main compartment on the inlet side of the flap valve so constructed and arranged as to prevent said valve from being opened by surging of water in the main compartment.

5. In a feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a Water compartment, a feed-water heating compartment and a plurality of i is iate compartment;

h'eatingcompartment and a combined passage and preheating compartment interposed between the water compartment and feed-water heating compartment and communicating with both, of check valves between the 'watercompartment and the combined passage an water-heating compartment and also between said latter compartment and the feed-water heating compartment which permit flow from the water compartment through the combined passage and' preheating compartment to the feed-water heating compartment but pre- '-vent counter flow, means to heat the water in the feed-water heating compartment, and means to preheat the water in the combined passage and preheating compartment.

"6. na feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a water compartment, a feed-water 7. In a feed-water heater/for locomotives,

the combination with a locomotive tender having a water compartment, a feed-water heating compartment, and an intermediate compartment interposed between the water compartment and the feed-water heating compartment, "there being valved communications between the intermediate compartment and each of the other compartments, of means to deliver exhaust steam directly to the water in the feeed-water heating compartment thereby to heat the same, and

means to utilize the heat in the steam which is not condensed in the feed-water heating compartment for preheating the water in l the intermediate compartment.

8. In a feed-water heater for locomtives, the combination with a locomotive tender "having a water compartment, a feed-water compartment and an intermediate compartment communicating "with both the firstnamed compartments, of means to deliver exhaust steam into the feed-water "heating compartment for heating the water therein, said compartment having .an upward extensionprovided with a steam dome above the maximum water level therein in which ssteam not condensed in the water may'accumulate and-means to return to the intermediate compartment water of condensation formed from said accumulated steam thereby to preheat the water in said intermediate compartment.

9. In a feed-water heater for locomotives,

having a water compartment, a feed-water heating compartment and an intermediate compartment between the first-named compartments, there being a communication between said compartments arranged to 7 provide for gravitational flow from the water compartment to the feed-water heating compartment through the intermediate compartment, said feed-water heating compartment having an upward extension provided with a steam dome, means to deliver exhaust steam into the feed-water heating compartment for heating the water therein, means for separating entrained water "the combination with a locomotive tender from the steam in the steam dome, and

means for returning said entrained water from the steam dome to the intermediate compartment, whereby the water in said intermediate compartment is preheated.

10. In a feed-water heater for locomot-ives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a water compartment, a feedwater heating compartment and an intermediate compartment, there being a communication between said compartments arranged to provide for gravitational flow from the water compartment to the waterheating compartment through the intermediate-compartment, said feed-water heating compartment having an upward extension provided with a steam dome, means to deliver exhaust steam into the feed-water heating compartment for heating the water therein, means for separating entrained;

water from the steam in the steam dome, and means for returning to the intermediate compartment both the separated entrained water and water of condensation derived from the excess steam delivered to the waterheating compartment, whereby the water in said intermediate compartment is preheated.

11. In a feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a water compartment, a -feedwater heating compartment and a passage 1 compartment interposed between the water compartment and the feed-water heating compartment, said passage-compartment extending transversely of the direction of' movement of said tender, of means to heat 1 the water in the feed-water heating compartment, two check valves, one between the water compartment and the passage compartment and the other between said passage compartment and the feed-water heating compartment, said" valves having a staggered arrangementand permitting flow from the water compartment through the passage compartment to the feed-water heating compartment but preventing counterflow due to surging of the water in said. compartment-s caused by movement of the locomotive.

12. The combination with a locomotive tender having a water compartment, a feedwater heating compartment and a plurality of ported partitions extending transversely to the direction of movement of the tender and separating said compartments and forming between them a passage compartment, of means to heat the water in the teedwater heating compartment, the ports in said partitions delivering water in the same direction and the port in one partition being situated adjacent one end of the passage compartment and that in the other partition adjacent the other end of said compartment, and automatically-operating valves controlling said ports and permitting water to flow from the main compartment to the heating compartment through the passage compartment but preventing counterflow due to surging of the water caused by movement of the locomotive.

13. In a feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with alocomotive tender having a water compartment, a feedwater heating compartment and an intermediate compartment communicating with both the first-named compartments, of means to deliver exhaust steam into the feed-water heating compartment for heating the water therein, said, feed-water heating compartment having an upward extension provided with a steam dome above the maximum water level therein in which steam not condensed in the water-heating compartment may accumulate, means to return to the in termediate compartment water of condensation formed from any excess steam delivered to the feed-water heating compartment thereby to preheat the water in said intermediate compartment, and a return duct connecting the steam dome to one of the compartments to permit return to said compartment of water that is separated from the steam in said upward extension.

14. In a feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a water compartment and a feed-water heating compartment, there being a valved communication between said compartments, means to heat water in the feed-water heating compartment, the latter having an outlet through which the hot water is delivered to a feeding device designed for feeding hot water to the locomotive boiler, a pipe communicating with the main water compartment and leading to a feed device which will feed cold water to the boiler but which is inoperative to feed hot water, and means for preventing transference of heat in appreciable amounts from the hot water in the feed-water heating compartment to the cold water in the water compartment, whereby the water in the water compartment will be maintained at a temperature suitable for the operation of the boiler feed device which takes water directly therefrom.

15. In a feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with a tender having a main water compartment and a feed-water heating compartment, said feed-water heating compartment having an upwardly-directed extension, there being a valved communication between said compartments with the inlet into the feed-water heating compartment below said upwardly-directed extension, said feed-water heating compartment being situated relative to the main water compartment so that there is a gravitational flow of water from the main compartment to the feed-water heating compartment, means for delivering exhaust steam into the teed-water heating compartment for heating the water therein, a connection for the withdrawal of water from said feed-water heating compartment, the upwardly-directed extension of the feed-water heating compartment having a generous cross-sectional size in a horizontal direction, whereby any steam and/or air contained in the water in the feed-water heating compartment may rise through the water into the upper portion of the extension without causing an upward flow of water in said extension.

16. In a feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a plurality of compartments, one of which is a main water compartment, another of which is a feed-water heating compartment and the remainder of which constitute a passage through which water flows from the main compartment to the feed-water heating compartment, of means to deliver exhaust steam into the feed-water heating compartment for heating the water therein, said compartment having an upward extension provided with a steam dome above the maximum water level therein in which steam not condensed in the water may accumulate, and means to return the water of condensation formed from said accumulated steam into a compartment between the main water compartment and the feed-water heating compartment.

17. In a feed-water heater for locomotives, the combination with a locomotive tender having a plurality of ported partitions extending in the same direction and dividing the water space of the tender into a plurality of compartments, one of which is a main water compartment, another of which is a feed-water heating compartment, and the remainder of which provide a passage communicating with both the main water compartment and the feed-water heating compartment, said compartments being arranged for gravitational flow of water from the main Water compartment through said passage to the feed-Water heating compartment, of non-return valves controlling the ports in said partitions, and means to heat the Water in the feed-water heating c0mpartment, the ports leading into said passage from the main Water compartment and from said passage into the feed-Water heating compartment being on opposite sides of said passage and delivering water in the same direction, one of said ports being adjacent one end of the passage and the other port being adjacent the other end of said passage, whereby said passage functions to dissipate any surge of Water through the port leading from the main Water compartment. In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification.

MYRON W. DOLE. MORTIMER SILVERMAN.

CERTIFICA'IF, ()F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,900,697. March 7, N33.

MYRON W. DOLE, ET AL.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of be time numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 7, claim 5, for "an" read "and"; line 52, claim 8 for the misspelled word "locomtives" read "lose-motives, and line 54, same claim, alter "feed-water" insert the word "heat ing";a:1d that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of April, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore. (Seal) Acting Commlssioner of Patents. 

